Latch-out device for twisting spindles



R'. H. :ARTER ET AL .I .TCH-OUT DEVICEFOR TWISTING SPINDLES 2snets-sheet 1 Filed Dec, 3i, '1947 maman/raming R. H. CARTER ET ALLATCH-OUT DEVICE FOR TwIsTING SPINDLES Aug. 1s, 1949.

2 SheetsSheet 2 Filed D00. 31, 1947 Patented Aug. 16, 1949 LATCH-OUTDEVICE FORTWISTING SPINDLES Ralph H. Carter, Johnson City, and ChadwickB. Kingsbury, Elizabethton, Tenn., assignors to North American RayonCorporation, New York, ifi. Y., a corporation of Delaware ApplicationDecember 31, 1947, Serial No. 794,964

11 claims. l

This invention relates to improvements intwisting spindles and moreparticularly to devices l for eiecting the operative engagement of saidspindles with the means used for drivlngsaid spindles and for eiiectingthe automatic or manual disengagement of said spindles from the drivingmeans.

In double twist spindles, especially those of the free balloon type, thespindle is carried by a pivotally swinging arm so that it is kept tiltedat an angle of from 20 to 30 from the vertical. The spindle,whichrotates at high speed,l carries members which support a supplypackage of the yarnv or thread that is to be withdrawn therefrom andtwisted. These supporting members, together with the Yarn package, aremounted upon the spindle in such fashion that while they can turn or beturned freely thereon, they do notrotate .along with the spindle,rotation of these members being prevented by means of an eccentricallypivoted counterweight disposed inside the package supporting member. Itis customary to mount a number of such spindles for operation by asingle drive belt, such belt being arrangedl to bear against drivepulleys or whorls on the individual spindles. Although the supplypackage and'lits support is normally held against rotation by thecounteweight, aided by the inclined position of the unit induced by thepivotal and angular mounting thereof, it can turn or rotate aboutitsaxis and such turning or rotation may occur during the twistingoperation and be caused by any factors -that interfere' with the smoothwithdrawal of yarn from the supply package. Thus, bearing faults, dirt,

snagging of the yarn, etc. may cause the supply package and its supportto rotate about its axis. The counterweight will strive to restore thesystem to repose, but ii lthe rotation persists, and the counterweightalso begins to' rotate, the pivotal arm will begin' to oscillate,carrying the rotating or gyrating spindle, supply package and supportwith it and cause the system to hunt with a pendulum like motion withrespect to the drive belt, i. e. the pulley or whorl on the spindle willalternately come'into and out of contact with. the drive belt. Itis thendesirable to lock the spindle automatically or manually out of contactwith the drive belt in order to permit inspection and correction ofthe'trouble. In disconnecting the spindle manually it is also desirableto bring the same to rest as rapidly as possible-as by braking the sameby some easily manipulated device so as to -avoid injury to theoperator. It is an object of the present invention t9 provide means forautomatically or manually disconnecting pivotally` suspen led spindles,of the aforesaid or similar type, from engagement with the driving meansand for applying a braking action thereto when the disconnection iseffected manually.

To this end a pivoted latch-out member is provided which normallypermits the spindle pulley or whorl to bear against the drive belt, butwhich member, when the oscillation of the support arm vexceeds apredetermined permissible amount,

during which movement the spindle pulley moves out of contact with thedrive belt, automatically assumes a position adapted to hold the spindleout of engagement with said belt, the gyrations of the yarn packagesupport being allowed to cease of their own accord.

It is another object of the invention so to arrange the aforesaidautomatic latch-out arrangement that it can also be manually actuated,

. the means used for eiecting such manual operation being additionallyassociated with braking means adapted to be facultatively actuated bythe operator at his discretion.

A still further object is to provide a latch-out arrangement forpivotally mounted spindles of this general type wherein the latch-outdevice also serves as a Avisual indication that one or more spindles ofa bank of similar spindles have been latched-out and requir'e attention.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing as applied to a pivotally disposed, tilted, free balloon type oftwisting spindle. In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a transverse section through a spindle rail showing thespindle engaged with the drive belt and the latch-out and brakingdevices in non-operating position.

v Fig. 2 is a section on line 2 2 of Fig. l, illustrating the manuallyoperated. braking device.

Fig. 3 isa sectional elevation of a portion of the lower end of thespindle, showing the belt drive means, latch-out device and brake, thespindle being in the latched-out position.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4f4 of Fig..1, showing thelatch-out device in position to 1permitthe spindle to engage lwith thedrive bel v Fig. 5 is a similar view taken on line 5--5 of Fig. 3,showing the latch-out device in position to prevent the spindle fromengagingwith the drive belt.

Fig. '6 is a front elevation of the spindle rail. drive belt, with thelatch-out device indicated in both positions and also showing thebraking mean.

Referring in detail to the figures of the drawing, a form of spindle towhich the invention is applicable is shown diagrammatically as a whole`and as a structure having a conical top. the entire structure beingshown tilted from the verti cal, in Fig. 1. I designates a package ofuntwisted yarn or thread which is mounted in a bowlshaped support memberI I and additionally supported by the flange I2 of a so-called capmember I3, the internal structure of the cap and the interior details ofthe bowl not being shown. The yarn or thread that is to be twisted isdrawn from the supply package I0, in the direction of the arrow I4,passes beneath a disc-like movable tensioning member I5 cooperating withthe top end of the cap I3 and down through the center of the interior ofthe spindle whence it issues from a port I6 in the storage wheel I1customarily used with spindle of this type and thereupon upward asindicated at I8. Starting at a point illustratively designated as I9 onthe bowl II the thread, in its upward travel forms a so-called freeballoon prior to entering a gathering eye (not shown) on its way to thetake-up package. The size of the balloon and the location of itsstarting point on the outside of bowl I I are dependent on a number offactors such as the denier of the thread and the tension appliedthereto. However, only the general structure of the yarn support is ofrelevance in the further consideration of the latch-out device and brakeof the present invention, hereinafter described.

The rotating portion of the spindle includes the storage wheel I1 from aport of which the yarn issues, as at I8, and the angeless belt pulley orwhorl 2I which derives its rotation by contacting with a drive belt 22held in place by idler pulleys 23 carried by a support rail 24. Inpractice, a number of spindles are arranged to be driven by one beltandthe support rail extends in spaced relation past all of the spindles'for reasons hereinafter explained.

The angeless belt pulley or whorl 2| that drives the spindle is mountedon arm 25 of a twoarmed lever through agency of a bearing support 29,the latter being secured to the arm 25 by nut 21, a locating pin 28being provided for correctly locating the support 29 to insure properpositioning of the brake device and latch-out device hereinafterdescribed.

The other, longer arm 26 of the two-armed leveris disposed at an angle,preferably slightly more than a right angle with respect to the arm 25andis carried byfa suitable bracket 30 on the twisting machine throughagency of a pivot 3 In'spindles of this type, the counterweight ecAcentrically carried within some portion of the yarn supply spoolsupport, ordinarily tends to keep the yarn package from partaking of thehigh speed rotation of the spindle while still allowing it to turnoccasionally completely or partially about its axis when factors comeinto play that tend to produce such relative turning. Bearing troubles,dirt, fly-waste, etc. may also produce the same effect. If the turningof the unit is momentary, the eccentric weight will quickly bring thepackage to rest, but if the turning is intermittent and repeated orprolonged, the supply package will begin to gyrate or turn to and froand eventually begin to rotate. Since the supply package supportassembly is by design substantially it of balance with respect to itsaxis, any rapid rotation will cause the twoarmed lever 25, 26, and ofcourse the spindle which it carries, to oscillate about its pivot point3I after the fashion of a pendulum. As the drive belt 22 is normally incontact with the pulley or whorl 2l which operates the spindle, theoscillating motion will cause the whorl 2l to come into and out ofcontact with the drive belt 22. It is therefore desirable to providemeans for latching the whorl 2I and hence the spindle out of contactwith said belt if the oscillatory movement of the two-armed leverpersists, so as to permit correction of any faults as rapidly aspossible. For example, unless the spindle is thus latched out, the unitcomprising the bowl II and cap I3 which carries the supply package maybecome operatively connected with the high speed spindle per se as bywaste thread becoming jammed between the bowl and the storage wheel I1or through bearing failure or for other reasons. This would cause theyarn support unit to revolve at the same speed as the whorl 2| andovercome the restraining and position-restoring efforts of theeccentrically pivoted counterweight within the yarn support structure.This may cause damage to the spindle, and, under certain conditions thepossible centrifugal propulsion of portions off the yarn support, cap ortensioning members may cause damage to adjacent spindles or injury toworkers. For this reason, in accordance with the invention, a latch-outarrangement is provided which will now be described.

The latch-out arrangement consists of a twoarmed lever so shaped andpivoted as to permit the end to drop into latching position by gravity,although of course it may also be spring-urged into such position. Apreferred embodiment is shown in detail in Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 6. Thelever is formed of suitable rod stock adapted for rapid quantityfabrication and preferably of a nonrusting metal such as stainlesssteel. The gravitational operation of the device is rendered possible bymaking one arm 32 longer and heavier than the other, 33. An intermediateportion 3l connects the two arms 32 and 33 and ispivotally journaled ina bearing sleeve preferably formed, likewise for quantity productionreasons, integral out of one end of a plate 36; a snap ring 31 engagingin a cut-out in the journal member 35 and cooperating with a groove inthe intermediate portion 34 of the latch-out lever servingto preventexcessive longitudinal play and insuring smoother pivotal action. A holein the plate 36 cooperates with the locating pin 28, previouslymentioned, to insure correct positioning of the leverwhen assembling thespindle. The shorter end 33 of the two-armed lever is bent over at 38and the longer arm 32 preferably terminates in an eye 39 or othersuitably shaped and readily fabricated nhandle-like configurationadapted to permit facile manual manipulation of the lever.

The arrangement operates as follows:

As shown in Fig. 1, the entire spindle is tilted so that whorl 2Icontacts with the drive belt 22, in which position the rotating portionsof the spindle, i. e. the whorl 2l and the storage wheel I1 rotates atvery high speed, the bowl II,yarn package I0, cap portions I3 and 20 andthe tensioning member I5 however being kept at rest relatively to therotating parts due to the counter-weight provided interiorly of theunit. The shorter end 33, 38 of the latch-out lever is shown ininoperative position in Fig. 1 and also in Fig. 6.

package unit may begin to gyrate andv thus cause the pivotedtwo-armedlever 25, 26 to oscillate in pendulous fashion. When the arc ofoscillation of lever 25, 26 exceeds a predetermined magnitude, theportion 33, 38 of the latch-out lever clears the lower-edge of thesupport rail 24 against which it rests while the spindle is functioningnormally, and assumes the position shown in Fig. 3 in which it holds thespindle out of operative contact with the drive belt 22. During thispivotal movementof the latch-out lever the longer arm 32 thereof alonglwith the eye 39 drops down and serves as a signal that the spindle isbeing held in latch-out position and requires attention to correct somecondition that prevents `intended to cover all modifleations comingwithin the scope of the appended claims.

It is claimed: 1. In a twisting Lspindle comprising in combination atwisting unit adapted for high speed rotation and a yarn package supportunit carried thereby and adapted for rotary movement relative thereto,constantly operating drive means disposed adjacent said spindle, amember carried by said twisting unit for engagement with said drivemeans, a pendulously pivoted arm for-carryi ing said` spindle andnormally causing'said memthe proper functioning thereof. The signal also-serves to point out which one or more of a large bank of spindles needsor need attention.

When a given spindle has been latched-out it may continue rotating foran appreciable length of time so that it may be desirable to brake the.

` relatively at rest, e. g. the bowl, yarn package and cap unit, so thatthe latter also continue to rotate. Even if no operative disturbanceoccurs, it is necessary to and desirable to provide a braking means forbringing the spindle to rest while the yarn supplypackage is beingreplaced. A braking device is therefore provided which comprises a brakeshoe 40 of suitable material, preferably a fabric block impregnated withsynthetic resin. This shoe has an arcuately recessed surface 4l toconform the shape of and provide adequate braking contact with the whorl2i against which it is applied. The shoe is carried by a bail-likemember comprising a substantially U-shaped rod of rustless metal, theprongs of which iit frictionally in holes bored in the shoe. One end ofthe bail 42 is preferably shaped as a ring or other suitable terminationadapted to be readily seized by an operator. The two tips of the otherend are bent inwardly as at 43 and engage pivotally in recesses in thebearing support 29 (Fig. 2).

The brake device performs two functions, each' 42 of the bail. On theother hand, even under normal operating conditions, as when changingyarn supply packages, the brake device acts in cooperation with thelatch-out device in that anl upward 'thrust directed by the operatoragainst the end 42 of the bail servesrto tilt the two-armed lever 25, 26about its pivot 3|, thus simultaneously causing the latch-out lever todrop into belt-disengaging position and the brake to be applied. Thebrake device therefore is adapted to perform two functions, one by:itself alone andthe other in cooperation with the latch-out device. A

Modifications of this invention willl be recognizedreadilybytiioseskilledinthe artand itis'A ber on' said twisting unit, to engage saiddrive means, and latching-out means, carried by said pivoted arm andnormally frictionally held in a position to permit operative engagementof said member with said drive means but pivotally urged to a positionadapted to prevent operative engagement of said member with said drivemeans when the pendulously pivoted arm moves in oscillatory fashionbeyond a predetermined limit.

2. In a twisting spindle comprising in combination a twisting unitadapted for high speed rotation and a yarn package support unit carriedthereby and adapted for rotary movement relative thereto, constantlyoperating drive means disposed adjacent said spindle, a member carriedby said twisting unit for engagement with said drive means, apendulously pivoted arm for carry ing said spindle and normally causingsaid member on said twisting unit to engage said drive means, andlatching-out means carried by said pivoted arm and normally frictionallyheld in a position to permit .operative engagement of said member withsaid drive means but gravitationally urged to-a position adapted toprevent operative engagement of said member with said drive means whenthe pendulously pivoted arm moves in oscillatory fashion beyond apredetermined limit.

3. In a twisting spindle comprising in combination a twisting unitadapted for high speed rotation and a yarn package support unit carriedthereby and adapted for rotary movement relative thereto, a pulley-likewhorl on-said twisting unit, a support rail adjacent said support andcarrying a constantly operating belt, a pendulously pivoted arm forcarrying said spindle and normally causing said whorl on said twistingunit to engage said belt and a latching-out member carried by said armand normally resting against said support rail in a position to permitoperative engagement of said whorl with said belt but. piv-` tivethereto, a pulley-like whorl on said twisting unit, a support railadjacent said support and carrying a constantly operating belt, apendulously pivoted arm for carrying said spindle and normally causingsaid whorl on said twisting unit to engage said belt and a latching-outmember carried by said arm and normally'resting against said supportrail in a position to permit operative engagementof said whorl with saidbelt but gravitationally urged to another position against said supportrail to prevent engagement of said whorl with said belt whenthependulously pivoted sup- -port arm moves in oscillatory fashion beyond apredetermined limit.

;5. In a twisting spindle comprising in combination a twisting unitadapted for high speed rotation and a yarn package support unit carriedthereby and adapted for rotary movement relative thereto, constantlyoperating drive means disposed adjacent said spindle, a driven membercarried by said twisting unit for engagement with said drive means, apendulously pivoted arm for carrying said spindle and normally causingsaid member on said twistingunit to engage said drive means,latching-out means carried by said pivoted arm and normally frictionallyheld in a position to permit operative engagement of said member withsaid drive means but pivotally urged to a position adapted to preventoperative engagement' of said member with said drive means when thependulously pivoted arm moves in oscillatory fashion beyond apredetermined.

limit and braking means cooperating with the driven member on saidtwisting unit for braking said member, said braking means being adaptedto be operated independently of said latching-out means.

6. In a twisting spindle comprising in combination a twisting unitadapted for high speed rotation and a yarn package support unit carriedthereby and adapted for rotary movement relative thereto, constantlyoperating drive means disposed adjacent said spindle, a driven membercarried by said twisting unit for engagement with said drive means, apendulously pivoted arm for carrying said spindle and normally causingsaid member on said twisting unit to engage said drive means,latching-out means carried by said pivoted arm and normally frictionallyheld in a position to permit operative engagement of said member withsaid drive means but gravitationally urged to a position adapted toprevent operative engagement of said member with said drive means whenthe pendulously pivoted arm moves in oscillatory fashion beyond apredetermined limit and braking means cooperating with the driven memberon said twisting unit for braking said member, said braking means beingnormally held gravitationally out of engagement with said driven memberand being adapted to be operated independently of said latching-outmeans.

7. In a twisting spindle comprising in combination a twisting unitadapted for high speed rotation and a yarn package support unit carriedthereby and adapted for rotary movement relative thereto, a pulley-likewhorl on said twisting unit, a support rail adjacent said support andcarrying a constantly operating belt, a pendulously pivoted arm forcarrying said spindle and normally causing said whorl on said twistingunit to engage said belt, a latching-out member carried by said arm andnormally resting against said support rail in a position to permitoperative engagement of said whorl with said belt but pivotally andgravitationally urged to another position against said spindle toprevent engagement of said whorl with said belt when the pendulouslypivoted support arm moves in oscillatory fashion beyond a predeterminedlimit and braking means cooperating with the driven member on saidtwisting unit for braking said member, said braking means being`normally held gravitationally out of engagement with said driven memberand being adapted to be operated independently of said latching-outmeans.

8. In a twisting spindle comprising in combination a twisting unitadapted for high speed rotation and a yarn package support unit carriedthereby and adapted for rotary movement relative thereto, a pulley-likewhorl on said twisting unit, a support rail adjacent said support andcarrying a constantly operating belt, a pendulously pivoted arm forcarrying said spindle and normally causing said whorl on said twistingunit to engage said beit. a iatching-out member carried by said arm andnormally resting against said support rail in a position to permitoperative engagement of said whorl with said belt but pivotally andgravitationally urged to another position against said support rail toprevent engagement of said whorl with said belt when the pendulouslypivoted support arm is moved in oscillatory fashion beyond apredetermined limit, and braking means pivotally carried by said spindlefor braking said whorl said braking means being heid gravitationally outof engagement with said whorl and adapted to be manually operatedindependently of said latching-out means but adapted for simultaneouslymanually oscillating said support arm to effect gravitational operationof said latching-out means and permit facultative manual application ofsaid braking means.

9. In a latch-out arrangement for a pendulously supported twistingspindle comprising, in combination, a pivoted support for pendulouslycarrying said spindle, a drive pulley on said spindle a support railcarrying a constantly operating drive belt normally engaging with saidpulley in a predetermined position of said pivoted support and alatch-out device for holding said spindle out of contact with said beltwhen said support oscillates beyond said predetermined amount, saidlatch-out device comprising a two-armed lever and a central portionconnecting said arms said central portion being pivotally journaled onthe support carrying said spindle, one of the arms of said lever whenbearing against one portion of said support rail serving to permitoperative engagement of said spindle with said drive means and whenmoved to another position against said support rail by the oscillationof said pivoted support beyond said predetermined amount serving toprevent return of said spindle into operative engagement with said drivemeans, the other arm of said two-armed lever serving as a gravitationalactuating means for said flrst arm and as an indicator that said firstarm has been moved to spindle latch-out position.

10. In av latch-out and braking arrangement for a pendulously supportedtwisting spindle of the type wherein the spindle comprises a high speedtwisting unit and a yarn package unit carried thereby and normallystationary thereon but capable of rotation relatively thereto, incornbination, a pivoted support for pendulously carrying said spindle, adrive pulley on said spindle, a support rail carrying a constantlyoperating drive belt normally engaging with said pulley in apredetermined position of said pivoted support and a latch-out devicefor holding said spindle out of contact with said belt when said supportoscillates beyond said predetermined amount, said latch-out devicecomprising a two-armed lever and a central portion connecting said arms,said central portion being pivotally journaled on the support carryingsaid spindle, one of the arms of ,said lever when bearing against oneportion of said support rail serving to permit operative engagementofsaid spindle with said drive means and when moved to another positionagainst said support rail by the oscillation of said pivoted supportbeyond said predetermined amount serv- '75 ing to prevent return ot saidspindle into oper- -a-ivaaas manually oscillating said pivoted supportto.

eiiect gravitational operation of said latching-out device and permitfacultative manual application of said brake block to said spindle.

11. A latch-out and braking arrangement for l0 a pendulously pivotedtwisting spindle comprising a latching-out member gravitationallyoperated in response to pendulous oscillations of said spindle and abraking device carried by said spindle and normally held gravitationallyout of engagement with said spindle and adapted to be manually operatedindependently of said latching device but adapted for manuallyoscillating said pivoted spindle to eiect gravitational operation ofsaid latching device and simultaneously permit facultative manualapplication of said braking device. Y

' RALPH H. CARTER. CHADWICK B. KINGSBURY.

No references cited.

